LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho Put on Paid Leave After FBI Raids

Federal agents executed search warrants at Carvalho's home and LAUSD headquarters amid an ongoing investigation.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Embattled Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho was placed on paid administrative leave after the LAUSD School Board held a unanimous vote. The decision came following more than eight hours of FBI raids at Carvalho's home and LAUSD headquarters, where agents were seen removing boxes and other items. Carvalho has not been seen publicly since the raids, and neither he nor a former LAUSD consultant have been charged with any crimes. The investigation is believed to involve LAUSD's dealings with an AI company that received nearly $3 million in district funds for services it never performed.

Why it matters

Carvalho was regarded as one of the top superintendents in the country, and his removal comes as a stunning turn of events for the award-winning educator who had just had his contract extended by the LAUSD board last year. The federal investigation raises concerns about transparency and accountability within the nation's second-largest school district, which controls a $18.8 billion budget and serves nearly 400,000 students.

The details

FBI agents with rifles were spotted taking boxes and other items from Carvalho's home in San Pedro and LAUSD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The investigation is believed to involve LAUSD's dealings with AllHere, an artificial-intelligence company that developed a chatbot for the district. Under Carvalho's leadership, LAUSD paid AllHere nearly $3 million for services it never performed. The company's young founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was charged with fraud in 2024, just months after she joined Carvalho for a public event to kick off the $6 million AI chatbot deal.

  • On Wednesday, federal agents executed search warrants at Carvalho's residence and LAUSD headquarters.
  • In 2024, AllHere founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with fraud.

The players

Alberto Carvalho

The embattled superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), who was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

Andres Chait

The Local District Northeast Superintendent, who was named as a temporary fill-in for Carvalho's powerful and high-profile role.

Joanna Smith-Griffin

The young founder of the AI company AllHere, who was charged with fraud in 2024 just months after joining Carvalho for a public event to kick off a $6 million chatbot deal with LAUSD.

Debra Kerr

A former consultant with the tech firm AllHere who is tied to the investigation.

LAUSD School Board

The seven-member elected board that placed Carvalho on paid administrative leave after a unanimous vote.

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What they’re saying

“Now everyone got scared because the FBI came. You guys ignored us until the FBI came.”

— Parent (YouTube/LAUSD Board Meetings)

“If this investigation escalates, resign out of dignity — every single one of you.”

— Parent (YouTube/LAUSD Board Meetings)

What’s next

The LAUSD School Board could bring in an interim superintendent later to fill Carvalho's role while the investigation continues.

The takeaway

The federal investigation into LAUSD's dealings with an AI company that received millions in district funds has led to the sudden removal of the highly regarded Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability within the nation's second-largest school system.